The Democratic advocate., 1887-04-16

signed paper to manifest their good will
towards the Manchester people who were
so relunctantly drawn into their net. So
that, by the time the act of the Legislature
confirming the establishment of the new
county of Carroll was passed January IS,
1887, it could hardly be doubted, had the
project been again submitted to popular
vote, majority of Dug Hill district would
have been in its favor.
1t was my privilege, as well as pleasure,
to attend the celebration of the establish
ment of the county, at Westminster, soon
after the passage Of the confrmatory act,
along with the delegation from Manchester
headed by the Manchester band, so well
noticed by our old friend, Col. W. W. Gar
| ner, now of Iowa, whose faithful record of
events is always pleasant and reliable. The
Grafton of James Raymond Esq, at the old
church, and other interesting events of that
Joyous occasion are so well related by others
that 1 need not protract this article, already
too long, by their mention.
After fifty eventful years, forty-seven of
which have been spent in Westminster, |
am glad to notice that Westminster, as well
as Manchester, and the other prominent
towns of our beautiful county, have made
vast strides toward improvement. Man
chester, though somewhat hurt by having
two railroads pass on either side, from one
to two miles away, is yet one of the largest
and neatest towns Of the county, and the
head of fine and picturesque district still
known as old ''Dug Hill district. West
Minister though vastly improved, is still
not yet in as good shape as she ought to be.
But long before the Centennial year ofour
county, when her streets shall have been
more fully opened and improved as they
should be, and her gently swelling eminen-
ces crowned with graceful villas, as they
will ere long be, she will then be county
seat worthy of county so highly favored
in every respect. Jos. NJ. PARKE.
POSTSCRIPT.
Since my "reminiscences OF the origin OF
Carroll county were in type, l have been
shown by Mr.. Francis Shriver, Of West
minister, an interesting relic left by his
father, the late Isaac Shriver, of Westmin-
ster, who deserves to be honored at this
time as one of the fathers of the new coun-
ty, and who did as much, perhaps more,
than any one else, to secure its success.
1t consists of a small map of that part OF
Maryland stretching from the Susquehanna
river along the Pennsylvania line to Hagers-
town, and shows most accurately the change
to be made on the map of Maryland by the
creation of the new county of Carroll. 1t
was made by Isaac Shriver with pen and
ink, finely shaded, lettered and colored, and
is indeed marvel of ingenuity.
After the defeat of the new county pro-
ject in 1888, the next effort was to get up
petitions to the Legislature showing the
great change which had taken place among
the voters of that part of the county which
had voted most strongly against it. Fran
els Shriver, who then lived in Dug Hill
district, at his tannery, between Manchester
and Hampstead, was most efficient in this
matter, aided, doubtless, by the late Judge
Michael Sullivan, great advocate of the
new county. Before the opponents of the
new county were aware of it, he had been
all through the district and got up two pc
titions, one of those originally in favor of
the new county, and another of those who
had voted against il. So many who had
voted against it signed this petition that
the Legislature was convinced that it was
proper to pass another new county bill,
without submitting it to popular vote.
Mr. Isaac Shriver had been elected mem
ber of the Legislature for Frederick county
at the session of 1856, and was active in
bringing forward the bill to establish the new
county, which passed for the first time that
winter, and had, as it was change Of the
constitution, to be confirmed by the next
Legislature of 1861. He prepared the
map l have mentioned in 1885 to use
among the members of the Legislature in
favor of the measure. He also prepared
with his pen perhaps twenty-five copies of
it, to circulate amongst them. Judging by
the map before me, which shows at glance
how beautifully the new county was situated
between the very large parent counties Of
Baltimore and Frederick, with Westmin-
ster, the psGpased county seat, very near
the centre, l think 1t must haye had
more powerful effect upon the members
than any of the arguments in the petitions
or speeches in its behalf. The map now in
his sons possession as a precious relic shows
this at a glancei and it has induced this
postscript for the purpose of hoporiug the
memory Of venerable man, one of the
most active of the county's fathers, and one
who in his day was highly respected, and
is now pleasantly remembered.
Jos. NJ. PARKE.